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Organize + Energize: 6 Reasons You Need to Declutter

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

 

If you had to take inventory of everything in your home, how long would it take you? If I came over and told you that you had to move out of your home tomorrow, how long would it take you to pack everything up in an organized fashion?  How much do you really need? How much do you really use? Those are questions I want you to ask yourself and be honest.  

Here are 6 reasons you need to declutter:

Decision making gets easier. How long does it take you to decide what to wear in the morning? The more you have, the more decisions you have to make. Life doesn’t have to be that complicated. The simpler you live, the easier life gets.

You’ll have more free time. How much time have you wasted searching for things in your home? You probably waste precious hours in the course of a week. When there is clutter in the way, things get misplaced and you’ll waste time and energy searching for them. 

You’ll be more focused. Having clutter anywhere in the home is a distraction and it adds to the mental clutter you are carrying around. Once you declutter and streamline systems in your home, you’ll have a new, energized, focused outlook in your home.

Cut down on cleaning time. Does anybody really like to clean? If you live with clutter and chatzkies scattered throughout your home, you probably miss some spots. I’m sure you aren’t moving everything out of the way to vacuum or dust. When you are organized and streamlined, your countertops and floors are clear and cleaning is a breeze. Less time cleaning means more time spent on the things you enjoy doing, especially on the weekend. 

You’ll find money. Not only will you save money by having less, but during the process of decluttering you’re going to find money. Trust me on this. Every home and office I organize, I find money and valuables that clients had been missing. So what are you waiting for? Start searching for your hidden money in the form of cash, checks, gift cards and valuables!

You’ll save money. Look at all of the clutter in your home. How much money do you think you’ve wasted on all of that stuff? Half of it you don’t even use and half of it you can’t even find to use it! Take a look around and think of all of the money you’ve spent.  Once you declutter and have a fresh start, you can re-evaluate how you are spending money.

I’m going to leave you with something to think about. Next time you are shopping online or in a store. Ask yourself: Do I really need this?  A majority of the time, the answer will be no.

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert and owner of Organizing in RI. Kristin teaches her clients that living an organized lifestyle will save them time and money, decrease their stress levels and help them become more efficient and productive. Her articles have been published in local and national magazines. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to begin. She is also available for organizing workshops.

 

Related Slideshow: Organizing Products For Your Closet

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Flip flop organizer

How many flip flops do you own? Are they thrown all over the closet floor? How long does it take you to find a match to one of them? Bed Bath and Beyond has a $9.99 flip flop organizer that holds 6 pairs of flip flops and hangs nicely in your closet. This is a must-have if you have more than 5 pairs of flip flops. I’ve purchased these for my clients and they work great!

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Scarf organizer

You love your scarves, but it takes you forever to locate one and you have to throw 5 around to find the one you are searching for. Use a scarf organizer and you will be able to see all your scarves and find them at a moment’s notice. Bed Bath and Beyond has a few different types of scarf organizers, including this one for $9.99.

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Belt organizer

How are you storing your belts? Are they in a tangled mess? Purchase a belt organizer for a cheap solution—they can be as inexpensive as $6.99 from the Container Store.

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Tie organizer

Keep your ties organized and hanging on a tie rack, or keep then rolled in a drawer organizer. Whichever way you choose to organize them, treat them with care. To take care of both your belts and your ties in one fell swoop, check out this organizer from the Container Store.

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Drawer organizer

This is a must for your underwear, socks, bras, nylons, etc. Drawer organizers will help to maximize space in your closet. You won’t believe the amount of space you will have once you contain these items in drawer organizers!

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Jewelry organizer

Are you always trying to detangle your necklaces? Think about how you grab your jewelry and then purchase an organizing system according to how you function. Before you purchase your container, take inventory of what you own and purchase accordingly.

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Shoe rack

Did you know people who didn’t own shoe racks were 7 times more likely to show up late for an event? Are your shoes in piles on the floor? Get them off the floor and contain them in a shoe rack. There are many options out there, like this one from Bed Bath and Beyond. Choose the shoe rack that is going to fit what you need to hold and fit in the space you are working with.

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Hangers

Are you hanging your clothes on the wire hangers from the dry cleaner? Those hangers will ruin your clothes. Get rid of them and store your clothes on the hanger of your choice, but be consistent and stick with one type of hanger.

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Handbags

How are you storing your handbags? Are they stored all over your closet? Are they in bins or crumpled up on the floor? It’s time to organize your bags. There are many options depending on the space you are working with. You can stand them up on a shelf, you can hang them, or if they are small, you can store them in a canvas bin. The choice is yours. Think about how you function and develop a system from there.

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Baseball cap organizer

How many baseball caps do you own? How are they organized in your closet now, and how long does it take you to find one? The Container Store (pictured here), Bed Bath and Beyond, and other stores sell this baseball cap organizer. I have a few clients that have purchased them and they love them!

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Function over flash

There are many variations on these products. Choose the product that is right for you. There are some organizing products I would never use, but other people might choose to use them. Choose the one that is going to be the most efficient and productive product for you and your family. Don’t choose a product because it’s pretty, choose it based on functionality. Search online for different products before you rush out and purchase a product. You may find that one store is more expensive than another. Don’t forget if you are going to Bed Bath and Beyond to use their 20% off coupons. If you don’t want to purchase these items, get creative and re-purpose items around the home, or make your own!

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Kristin MacRae

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30am on www.talkstreamradio.com.

 
 

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